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Amtrak train hits, kills teen

An Amtrak train hit and killed a teen who was on the tracks on Wednesday afternoon.

At 3:15 p.m., an Amtrak Southwest Chief train hit the teen on the tracks in Bernalillo.

Bernalillo police are calling the crash an accident and said the teen likely had no idea what was about to hit him. Police said the 15-year-old boy may have been using earbuds, listening to an iPod, when he was hit.

Emergency medical service workers showed up almost immediately, but the teen had already died.

The teen’s best friend, Jorge Lopez, said he was with his friend moments before the accident. He said he didn’t hear the train.

“No I didn't think there was a train,” Lopez said.

Lopez had just parted ways with his 15-year-old friend before the crash.

“He was one of my best friends,” Lopez said. “I told him, Did he want to skate later on? He told me he'd call me back, and that's pretty much everything I heard from him.”

Moments later, Lopez received the news that his friend had been hit. Lopez raced to the train tracks, but it was too late.

“He was a great guy, really funny, made everybody laugh,” Lopez said.

Many Bernalillo High School students cross the train tracks as a shortcut when leaving school. Bernalillo Police Chief Julian Gonzales said he hopes the teen’s death is a lesson for kids who use the path as a shortcut.

“It’s always unfortunate when you have a young person to die so tragically and over things that could really be prevented, you know,” Gonzales said. “Look both ways before you cross the tracks, and be more aware of your surroundings.”

The train departed from Chicago and was on its way to a stop in Albuquerque before ultimately heading to Los Angeles. None of the 116 passengers on board the train were injured.

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